How to Guard is your inside guide to life in the Air National Guard. Hosted by members of the New York Air National Guard, this podcast gives listeners a clear and honest look at what it means to serve. We break down the process of joining, but we also go far beyond recruiting.
Each episode explores the opportunities that make the Guard unique. Career fields, special missions, education benefits, part time and full time roles, deployments, leadership paths, community involvement, and the experiences of Airmen across every specialty. You will hear real stories, real advice, and real insight into how the Guard helps people build skills, find purpose, and create a future that works for them.
Whether you are considering military service or simply want to understand the wide range of possibilities the Guard offers, How to Guard gives you a clear picture of what is available and how to make the most of it.
New episodes will be released regularly on Buzzsprout and all major podcast platforms
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How To Guard, we sit down with Colonel Slosek, Commander of the Airlift Wing, to talk about leadership, experience, and what it really takes to rise through the ranks in the Air National Guard. From his early days serving as a flight navigator to leading an entire wing, Colonel Slosek shares firsthand stories from the cockpit, lessons learned along the way, and the mindset required to grow within the Guard. We dive into what airlift missions look like from ...
24 Feb 2026
An Air National Guard Legend!!
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of How To Guard, we sit down with an Air National Guard legend, CMSgt (Retired) Denny Richardson. We talk leadership traits that actually work, what setting the standard looks like day to day, and the mindset that separates good troops from great ones. CMSgt (Retired) Richardson shares lessons learned across a lifetime of service, including how to lead people, build culture, and stay consistent when things get hard. Whether you are thinking about joining, yo...
10 Feb 2026
Benefits Explained! Paid College Tuition, Bonuses, and More!
Send us Fan Mail In this mega episode of the How to Guard Podcast, we sit down with MSgt Lewis, our Retention Office Manager, to answer one of the biggest questions people have. How does the New York Air National Guard pay for college tuition? We break down tuition assistance, college benefits, sign on and retention bonuses, and how Guard pay can work alongside school and civilian life. MSgt Lewis shares real insight on how members can plan for college, avoid common mistakes and take fu...
30 Jan 2026
Enlisted to Commissioned. Becoming an Officer!
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the How to Guard Podcast, we sit down with 1st Lt Cappadora, a maintenance officer whose career started on the enlisted side before earning a commission. Lt Cappadora shares what it was really like coming in as enlisted, learning the maintenance mission from the ground up, and later making the transition to becoming an officer. We talk about leadership, credibility, and how prior enlisted experience shapes the way he leads Airmen today. This episode is a gr...
13 Jan 2026
Military & Family Readiness Programs!
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the How to Guard podcast, we sit down with Colleen Casey, our Military Family and Readiness Program Manager. Colleen shares her career journey, breaks down the roles and responsibilities of the Military Family and Readiness Program, and explains how it supports Airmen and their families through every stage of service. From resources and advocacy to readiness and resilience, this conversation highlights a different side of the NY Air National Guard that supp...
29 Dec 2025
Back From Basic Training and Technical School!
Send us Fan Mail Episode two of How to Guard takes you straight into the experience of becoming an Airman. We sit down with a newly enlisted member fresh back from basic training to talk honestly about what it was like to leave home, adapt to military life, and push through the challenges of training. He shares what surprised him the most, what he learned about himself along the way, and how basic training shaped his mindset. We also dive into his goals moving forward, including his career pl...
3 Dec 2025
Episode 1: Who We Are. What We Do. Why We Do It.
Send us Fan Mail In our very first episode of the How to Guard Podcast, we introduce who we are, what we do, and why we chose to serve. We break down the different paths that led each of us to the Air National Guard, from career goals and family considerations to opportunities we never expected. We talk about the realities of different statuses, deployments, and unique missions, including operations with ODF and experiences supporting missions in Greenland and Antarctica. This episode sets th...
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